A BORDERS golf club fighting to survive the coronavirus pandemic has raised thousands of pounds in the course’s 125th anniversary year.

Torwoodlee Golf Club, near Galashiels, has launched an online fundraising page in a bid to stay afloat.

Club chairman Robin Brydon told the Border Telegraph that generous donors gave a total of £7,000 within seven days.

Mr Brydon said: “It’s been amazing and we’re all totally humbled by the donations so far.”

The JustGiving page describes the parkland course as one of the “finest” in Scotland, but goes on to outline the challenges faced by the club, which closed last month.

A statement reads: “Due to the devastating COVID-19 pandemic crisis affecting us all, the club now faces an uncertain future and we therefore need as much money as possible to survive the pandemic and beyond.”

Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Brydon revealed that the original aim was to generate £5,000, but a wave of donations has prompted the target to be raised to £10,000.

Mr Brydon said: “For people who are not going to the golf club at the moment and spending money on teas and coffees and entry fees and who are maybe financially better off as they’re not spending money, we’d be grateful if they could donate a little bit every week to the club.”

Asked what the money will be spent on, Mr Brydon said: “It all goes into the pot and it’s just to ensure survival. We’ve obviously got a lot of outgoings with machinery rentals and buggy rentals and bills to play.”

Clubhouse staff have been put on furlough, according to Mr Brydon, but a greenkeeper continues to maintain the course, established in 1895.

Mr Brydon said the club has around 350 members, but ex-members have also been keen to show their concern.

“We’ve seen donations from as far away as Australia,” said Mr Brydon. “We’ve also had money from Aberdeen and from former members in Chepstow.”

A third of the club’s income has traditionally come from visitors, said Mr Brydon, who explained the course’s appeal.

“It’s a really lovely course – the views and the scenery and the layout. A lot of the visitors have been coming for 25 years,” he said.

Mr Brydon put the chances of survival at around 75 per cent, adding: “Everybody has got to remain positive, but there are so many unknowns at the moment.”

Outlining how much the club means to him, he said: “I’ve been a member for 43 years, so it’s a huge part of my life and my family’s life. It’s a spectacular place to be – we all take it for granted.”

Peebles Golf Club is one of the other clubs running a similar fundraising drive.